Distributing and feeding means for laundries



Feb. 10, 1931,, E. J. CARROLL 1,791,433

DISTRIBUTING AND FEEDING MEANS FOR LAUNDRIES Original i e g- 7, 1926 INVENTOR 3? f 16'. "-2 39 Eva JQ ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 10, 1931 EJNETED PATENT QFFlfiE EIVIIL =3. CAR-ROLL, OF CINCINNATI, SEIKO, ASSEGNQE TO THE AMERICAN LAUNDRY MA- GHINERY COMPANY, OF NORWOOD, 0310, A CORPORATION OF OHIO DISTRIBUTING AND FEEDING MEANS FOR- LA'UNDRZES Original application filed August 7, 1926, Serial No. 127,897. Divided and this application filed November This invention relates to laundry systems and more particularly to work-handling means therein for serving laundry machines such as washing machines and the like which may be of multiple compartment type.

A system such as that to which reference has been made is shown in my copending application, Serial No. 127,897, filed August 7, 1926, of which thisapplication is a division, wherein work-handling means such as are described more in detail hereinafter, appear as bins each arranged to serve one of a plurality of washing machines, the washing machines being of multi-compartment type, and each bin having a corresponding number of dumping pockets arranged in series relation, whereby loads of work may be advanced from the first pocket through the remaining pockets in succession, and the first pocket may thus serve as a load-forming pocket and the remaining pocketsserve as load-storing pockets and the bin may contain a number of loads which compri e a complete load for.

the washing machine which the bin serves. The work-handlingmeans also includes bin loading means comprising distributing means for delivering work to the first pocket of each bin, and conveying means for delivering work from a work-sorting table onto the distributing means. i

The work-handlingmeans also includes control means associated with the conveyor and distributor portions of the loading means, and with the bin pockets, and with the laundry machines whereby these parts are caused to function, and prevented from functioning in an interdependent manner as will later appear.

The objects of the present invention are broadly to provide means for serving a laundry machine of the class described, or sev "eral such machines, whereby work is delivered thereto in a manner as near automatic as feasible and consequently wlth a mmimum of human effort, and where there is the least possibilityof misteasance in operation.

The exact nature of this invention together with furtherobjects and advantages thereof I will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompany Serial No. 319,569.

ing drawings in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic elevational View showing a pair of three-compartment washing machines, with an application of my work-handling means thereto, and Fig. 2 is an electrical wiring diagram for parts of my invention appearing in Fig. l.

' 'With reference now to the drawings, 8 and 9 are a pair of washing machines arranged on the indicated floor adjacent each other to deliver into a chute 10. 6 and 7 are multipocket bins arranged to deliver each into its washing machine as will appear. t is a distributor arranged to deliver into either of the bins. 2 is a conveyor arranged to deliver to the distributor 4: from a sorting table 1.

The washing machines illustrated are of three-compartment type as indicated, each having the customary foraminated cylindrical drum 16 arranged to revolve within a closed tub 17 partly filled with detergent fluid, the drum being divided by three radial and longitudinally extending ,toraminated partitions into three pockets each pocket being provided with a circumferentially sliding door 18 adapted to be moved into registry with a loading-opening in the tub closed by a loading-door 19, or with a dumping, or unloading-opening closed by an unloadingdoor 20. The left-hand machine, 8, is shown in loading position and the right-hand machine, 9, in dumping position. The bins 6 and 7 are correspondingly provided with three pockets each.

Loading of the washing machine drums is accompllshed by co-ordinated operation of the conveyors and chutes, the control systemthree insulated conducting bridges22 insulated from each other and adapted to cooperate with two sets of contacts 23, 24. The compartments of the bins 6, 7 are of hopper shape formed by hinged leaves, two for each compartment, marked 25, a. Both sets of leaves 25, 250 are normally moved to closed position by tension springs 26. Lear-1 25 are provided with latching arms 27 engaged by latches 28 urged to the latching position shown as by gravity or by a spring not shown, and capable of being moved to unlatching position by solenoids, marked 29, 30, 31 for the three compartments. Each leaf 25a has an arm 32 adapted upon extreme movement of said leaf toward closed position to eng. button and close a pair of contacts, the contacts for the three con'ipartments being marked respectively 33, and 36 is a single pole relay or magnetic contactor, the pole of which actuates the normally open contacts 37, 38, the latter of which completes a maintaining circuit for the coil of the contactor after the starting button 39 is closed. 40 is a double pole magnetic contactor, having the normally closed contacts 41, normally open contacts 42 and the normally open con tacts 43. 44 is a double pole magnetic contactor relay, having the normally open contacts 45.

Let us assume that washing machine 8, at the left, has completed its washing duty and has been stopped, ready for unloading and reloading. The first operation is to completely unload the washing machine, by opening both the loading and unloading doors in the tub and successively 'ioving the several drum pockets, first to loading position w ice the pocket door is opened and th a to dumping position where the load is discharged, until all pockets are emp tied. The drum is now turned to the loading position for one of the compartments, as shown in T l, in which position the contactor drum 2i occupies the position shown in Fig. 2. Thereupon button 39, Fig. 2, is depressed, closing a circuit from L1 by wire 46, button 39, the coil of relay wire 47, wire 48, normally clo ed coutacu a Wire 49 to L2. llnergization of coil 36 c e; the contacts 37, 38, con'ipleting a circuit from L]. by wire 46, solenoid contact contacts 37 to wire 47 and to L2 and also by contacts 33 and the coil 36 and wire 47 to L2. Contacts 38 complete the maintaining circuit for coil 36 and the energization of solenoid 29 unlatches the leaf 25 of the comp ment 666 and permits the load therein to slide down wardly into the pocket of the washer drum; As soon as released by the load the sprin s pull the leaves or doors back to the posit on shown and indeed, leaf 25o moves back so far as to depress the button and close the contacts 33, but the circuit there closed is not yet effective. Neithe the leaf latched.

The operator now operates the washing machine to move its drum one-sixth of a revolution or to the dumping position in which one of the bridges 22 bridges contacts 24. As the cylinder starts moving, the circuit through the coil 29 is broken at the contacts 23 and the latch 28 moves over to latch the doors of the compartment 6c closed. lVh-en bridge 22 reaches contacts 24, a circuit is completed through said contacts and through the contacts 33 and also through a second solenoid coil 30, thereby unlatching the leaves of compartment 6?), the work in which drops to the lower compartment 6a, depressing leaf 2560 until the circuit is broken at contacts 33. This operation allows the leaves of compartment 66 to move backto closed position tobe latched by the latching effect occurring when coil is tie-energized. Leaf 25a of con'ipartinent 66 moves back so far as to close the contacts 34 and complete a circuit through said contacts and through the solenoid 31, which unlatches the leaves of the compartment 60 and allows the work therein to drop to the now latched leaves of compartment 6?), depressing the leaf 25a thereof, and opening contacts 34 and deenergizing solenoid 31. The leaves of compartment 60 return to closed position and are latched and the leaf 25a thereof depresses its button and closes the contacts 35, thereby completing a circuit from L by wire 46, contacts 35, the coil of the contactor 40 and by wire 48, normally closed contacts 41 etc. to L2.

Energization of coil 40 opens the contacts 41 and closes contacts 42 and Closing of contacts 42 completes a motor circuit from L1 by wire 46, wire 50, a contact 42, wire 51, the armature of motor 5, wire 52, a contact 42, a wire 53 to L2. Current flows through the armature of motor 5 in that direction which causes it to drive the conveyor 4 in a direction to feed the work into the compartment 60 of bin '6. Closing of contacts 43 completes a circuit through the coil of the contactor 44 by wire 46, the coil of said contactor, contacts 43 and wire 53 to L2. Energization of con tactor 44 closes contacts'45, completing a motor circuit from L1 by wire 46, wire 54, and contact 45, the armature of motor 3, a contact 45 and wire 53 to L2. Motor 3 therefore drives the elevating conveyor 2 to feed work upon the distributing conveyor 4 from which it is then fed into the compartment until the leaf 25o thereof is so depressed as to permit the contacts to open, whereupon the coil of contactor 40 is de-energized and the circuit of motor 5 immediately opened, and contactor 44 is deenergized and the circuit of motor 3 is opened.

Thus with movement of the washing machine drum to the intermediate or unloading position the batches of work in the uppertwo bin compartments each move down one compartment, and the conveyors feed work into the upper compartment until it is filled with the proper weight, whereupon all parts stop menses complete a circuit through motor 5, but

through the armature of said motor in the reverse direction from before, and also a circuit from the contactor e l to complete the circuit of motor 3, as the result of which the feeding operation is produced as before, but in this case feeding the work to the bin 7 instead of to bin 6.

it will be noted that the circuit through the starting button 39 and coil of contactor 36 includes the normally closed contacts il of contactor 40'. Consequently said starting circuit cannot be completed when coil 40 is energized and the motors are feeding to the compartments of bin 7. The circuit through contacts 35 and coil 40 also includes the nor mally closed contacts 41". Also, the circuit throughcontacts 35 and the coil of contactor 40 includes the normally closed contacts 41 of contactor 40. Therefore, the control circuits for the two sets of bins are interlocked so that energization of either coil 40 or 40 i to complete proper motor circuits for feeding to one bin or the other renders the other motor starting circuit ineffective and prevents interference by the control circuits on one side with those of the other.

By following the steps described, the operator is enabled to successively load any num ber of pockets in each washing machine and as each pocket is loaded the batches of work in the bin compartments both descend one step and the upper compai i" thus emptied is refilled.

Customari ing machines are operated in staggered or alternate relation, one washing machine being unloaded and reloaded as the other machine performs its washing operation.

What I claim is: l. Aparatus of the character described comprising a pair of inac ies each provided a Table load-receiv ng part, a pair of bin structures each arranged above movable having a plurality of pockets arvertically a n ranged in series relation, wh o3 loads of work may be adva ced from the top pocket t irongh the remair 9; pockets i succession, common loading means for s l bin structures, movable opposite directions, and means for preventing dumping of the loads in one bin structure while the other bin structure is being loaded.

2. An apparatus of the character described,

comprising a machine provided with a movable load-receiving part having a loading poan advanced position to which it u said load-receiving position, a r ged above said movable r a plurality of vertirranged ""cession, operatordumping of the 11 o said movable means controlled by movemacl ine part to said ror ei 'ecting dumping of t 1 to po 3. Apparatus of the character described,

comprising a machine provided with a movable load-receiving part havin a loading position and an advanced position to which it is moved from s 1o load-receiving position, a bin structure arranged above said movable machine part and having a plurality of verically aligned loadreceiving pockets ared in series relation, whereby loads of worn may be advanced from the top pocket through the remai lg pockets in succession, movable means for lelivering work to said pocket, and meals controlled by move- 7 of said machine part for efiectin dumpof the work in said top pocket into the ciret therebelow when the work in said top pccset has been formed into or makes up a l r load.

A paratus of the character described,

comprising a machine provided with a movable load-receiving part having a loading posi on and an advancec position to which it is moved from said load-receiving position, a bin structure arranged above said movable machine part and hat by; a plurality of vertically aligned load-receivin pockets arranged in be advanced from remaining poo means for deliv and means co the top pocket through the in succession, movable work to said top pocket, l by movement of said machine par g dumping of the work in said top pocket -7. o the pocket therebelow and for stopping the movement of said delivery means when the worl: in sail top pocket has been formed into malzes up a proper load.

5. Apparatus of the character described, comprisin a machine orovided with a movable loa -receiving pare having a loading po si ion and an advanced position to which it is moved irom said load-receiving position, a bin structur arranged above said movable machine part and having a plurality of vertically aligned load-receiving pockets arranged in series relation, whereby loads of work may be advanced from the top pocket through the remaining pockets in succession, each of said cries relation, whereby loads of work may pockets having a dumping door, latch means for each dumping door, operator-operated means for elfecting dumping of the load in the bottom pocket into said movablemachine part, and means controlled by movement of said movable machine part to said advanced position for effecting the release of the latch means for the doors of the remaining pockets to effect dumping of the load in each of the remaining pockets into a pocket therebelow.

In testimony whereof I hereby afiix my signature.

EMIL J. CARROLL. 

